243
(Konfederatsiia Naradov Kavkaza) in its emergency congress held in Grozny on 4-
5 October 1992.
In its first meeting in Grozny on 17-18 October 1992, the renamed
Confederation discussed the clashes between the Ingush and Osetians. In that
meeting North Osetia was described as the ‘spine’ of Russia in the region. That is
to say, it was a republic that could easily change the political balance in the
region.
582
From then on, Osetians diverted their path towards Moscow and the
relation between the Confederation and the Osetians started to become tense.
Following the intensification of the strife among the Ingush and Osetians,
Chechen Republic’s parliament held an emergency sitting in Grozny on 1
November. “It is supposed to propose to make the peacemaking activity of the CCP
in solving the conflict more active.”
583
The leading figures of the Confederation
also took in part at that sitting of the Chechen parliament, and Musa Shanibov
declared that the clashes between the Osetians and Ingush in the Prigorodnyi region
of North Osetia were “the greatest misfortune which could happen in the Northern
Caucasus.” He underlined that the CCP would insist on urgent stopping of
bloodshed and sacking of all disputable issues between the Osetians and Ingush by
peaceful political means.
584
In addition, Yusup Soslambekov, the head of the
Confederation Parliament, declared that the Confederation was not going to join
582
“Kendimizden Başka Kimse Bize Yardımcı Olmayacaktır,” January 1993. Kafkasya Gerçeği, 11:
8-9.
583
“Chechnia rules out involvement in Osetian-Ingush Conflict,” SWB SU/1528, B/5, 3 November
1992.
584
Chechnia rules out involvement in Osetian-Ingush Conflict,” SWB SU/1528, B/5, 3 November
1992.
244
either North Osetia or Ingushetia in their conflict, but would “play peacemaking
role to immediately stop this armed conflict”.
According to the participants of the session, the main burden was on “the
empire forces of Russia and Georgia”. Shanibov accused Russia and Georgia for
establishing serious contacts with North Osetia and Ingushetia, respectively. The
conflict has become a burning point, which distracts the Confederation forces from
confrontation in Abkhazia, Shanibov pointed out, “that is why Georgia is interested
in this conflict.”
585
In those days, the main concern of the Chechen and Confederation leaders
was preventing the spread of the clashes and advance of the Russian troops to the
Chechen proper. Therefore, in order to mollify the Russian military circles, they
oftenly denied reports that Chechen regiments were moving towards Vladikavkaz
to support the Ingush. Soslambekov said that not a single volunteer of the
Confederation would appear in the zone of the Osetian-Ingush conflict and added
that “in the whole history of the Chechen and Osetian peoples they had never
fought against each other and that this would not happen now, either.”
586
In fact, an Ingush delegation from the Prigorodnyi arrived to Grozny in the
very early days of the conflict, on 31 October 1992 and asked for a support,
especially for the arms. In addition, the Ingush expressed their hope that the
Confederation and all “sound forces of the region”’ would be on their side.
587
585
Şenibe, Birliğin Zaferi, 53-4.
586
“Chechnia rules out involvement in Osetian-Ingush Conflict,” SWB SU/1528, B/5, 3 November
1992.
587
“Groznyy TV calls on Chechens to share arms with Ingush,” SWB SU/1527, B/3, 2 November
1992.
245
Beyond the rumours that the Chechen and Confederation’s armed formations have
left Grozny for the Osetian-Ingush conflict area, the attitudes of both sides was
much more different.
During the aforementioned emergency session of the Chechen Parliament,
the overwhelming majority of deputies spoke out against Chechnya’s involvement
in armed conflict. Moreover, they insisted that the Chechen mass media would not
publish any propaganda on participation of volunteers in the conflict. The
parliamentarians spoke out for strengthening of guard of military units to prevent
seizure of arms by the Ingush.
588
On 9 November, when the Russian troops had already reached the still
undemarcated border between Chechnya and Ingushetia, Musa Shanibov demanded
the withdrawal of the Russian troops from the zone of the Osetian-Ingush conflict.
He pointed out that “following the withdrawal, we shall solve the problem within a
month through negotiations”. He further added that the Russian authorities should
stop their interference in the affairs of the Caucasus, particularly in the affairs of
the Ingush and Osetians.
589
On 10 November 1992, Russian troops entered into the territory of
Ingushetia and by evening they were in control of the situation. They reached
undefined Chechen-Ingush border and occupied some of Chechen territory.
Chechen Republic was not late to react and declared a state of emergency in the
588
“Chechnia rules out involvement in Osetian-Ingush Conflict,” SWB SU/1528, B/5, 3 November
1992
589
“Shanibov demands withdrawal of Russian troops,” SWB SU/1535, B/3, 11 November 1992.
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